GlycA

GlycA measures the acetylated glycoproteins in your blood, which reflect systemic inflammation. It is used to assess cardiovascular disease risk and overall inflammatory burden independent of traditional cholesterol markers.

When elevated: An elevated GlycA level indicates increased systemic inflammation, which is associated with higher cardiovascular disease risk. This suggests your body may be experiencing chronic inflammatory processes that can contribute to atherosclerosis and other vascular complications. When low: A low GlycA level indicates minimal systemic inflammation and is generally favorable for cardiovascular health. This suggests a lower inflammatory burden and reduced cardiovascular risk profile.

GlycA reflects training-induced systemic inflammation and recovery status—elevated levels may indicate inadequate recovery or overtraining syndrome rather than poor health alone. For athletes, tracking GlycA alongside performance metrics can help optimize training load and detect when inflammatory burden exceeds adaptive capacity, supporting long-term cardiovascular health and sustainable performance.